Update: 4:16PM A COMBINED team from the New Zealand Defence Force, Fiji’s Ministry for Primary Industries and the Fijian Government agencies boarded 51 vessels and detected five alleged infringements during the latest patrol of Fiji’s maritime water aboard Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Hawea.

The number of vessels boarded has reached almost 500 since
the maritime security and fisheries patrols started more than five months ago. 

Inshore Patrol Vessel HMNZS Hawea commanding officer
Lieutenant Brock West said the latest alleged infringements included fishing
without a licence, dumping rubbish at sea, lack of work permits and breach of
safety regulations such as not having life jackets or holding master’s
licences. 

“The local knowledge of our Fijian partner-agencies has been
key to the strong results we have achieved so far,” Lieutenant West said in a
statement from the NZ Defence Force.   

“There would be no let-up in focus on the patrols. The
team’s focus on achieving the mission remains as strong as when we started
these patrols more than five months ago.

“We’ve also noted a greater public awareness of Hawea’s work
in Fiji.” 

Maritime Component Commander Commodore Jim Gilmour said the
operation had strengthened longstanding military ties and people-to-people
links between the two countries.

“Through these combined patrols, we have been able to
support the Fiji Navy on maritime surveillance and in developing their
capability. These have also helped our sailors enhance their general mariner
skills,” Commodore Gilmour said in the statement.

The NZDF sent Hawea to Fiji in April early this year to help
patrol the South Pacific country’s territorial water and Exclusive Economic
Zone, which encompasses more than 1.1 million square kilometres.

About 40 Fiji Navy sailors have joined the ship for training
so far.